Encapsulation apparatus



y 1954 w. 5. WEST 3,133,392

ENCAPSULATION APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 q 2 INVENTOR Wi/bam 5. West WH/i/V/V Mc MAN/GAL y 1964 w. 5. WEST 3,133,392

ENCAPSULATION APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M77121? 5 h/esaf INVENTOR W/M/VN 8 McMAN/GAL Af/orneys fivr A ZIE-an/ y 9, 1964 w. 5. WEST 3,133,392

ENCAPSULATION APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mil/6m s. Mm;

INVENTOR W/MNN a McMAN/GAL Af/ofnoys for 14 71/500) United States Patent 3,133,392 ENCAPSULATION APPARATUS William S. West, 26th) California St., San Marino, Calif. Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 134,994 11 Claims. (Cl. 53226) The present invention relates generally to the encapsulation of products, objects, materials, and the like, and is more particularly concerned with apparatus and method for applying a flexible encapsulating sheet material intimately around the product in such manner as to pro tect and preserve the product and enable facile removal of the encapsulation when desired.

It is an important object of the present invention'to provide a practical method and apparatus for carrying out the method, which will permit the encapsulation of products, objects, materials, and the like generally within an encapsulating flexible film-like material irrespective of the shape and characteristics thereof.

A further object resides in the provision of an envelope intimately formed around the product, and which may be closed to provide an airtight seal, semi-airtight seal, or a seal which may be left partially open without destroying the envelope to allow for the exposure and limited access to the encapsulated product, for example, the butt-end of a head of lettuce to permit trimming after reaching the market.

As a further feature, it is proposed to provide the sealed closures with projecting ears which may be grasped by the fingers to facilitate removal of the envelope within which the product is encapsulated.

It is a further object to provide encapsulating apparatus wherein the web of encapsulating film-like material is re tained against slippage during the encapsulating operation, thus making it possible to properly maintain the position of the object so that it will have a desired position with respect to the sealed opening of the envelope.

A further object is to provide in apparatus for the purpose herein described, a procedure wherein the product may be utilized as a medium for forming a cup-like sup port from the encapsulating material, and in cases where the product is of a flake or granular character, the cup may be formed by means of a tubular member.

A still further object is to provide a unique mechanism for feeding the web of film-like encapsulating material to the product encapsulating position, and for thereafter removing and disposing of the waste web material.

Another object resides in the provision of means which are of particular advantage when utilizing an encapsulating material having heat sealing characteristics. In this case, the encapsulating material is gathered into a neck portion, clamped and then sealed and simultaneously severed by means of a heated knife, the apparatus being so arranged that the clamp continues to hold the material during a cooling interval before being released. 7

It is also an important object to provide an apparatus and method which will permit a band bearing printing or other indicia thereon to be simultaneously placed within the envelope during the encapsulating process and sealed and. severed in such manner that the band will intimately surround the object and the indicia thereon will: be

visible through the encapsulating medium.

Further objects of the invention will; be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing several embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus according to the ice present invention and for encapsulating products according tothe improved method described herein;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view. of the apparatus as seen from the feed end for the encapsulating material;

FIG. 4 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the sequential operative positions of certain of the coacting parts of the apparatus during the encapsulating operation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the cooperative relationship and details of construction of slightly modified means for forming the opening which receives the encapsulating material and object therethrough;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the sealed neck portion of the encapsulating envelope resulting from the arrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, the plate members being modified to produce laterally positioned projecting ears rather than end ears as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the type of scaled neck produced by the arrangement shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing details of means for selectively changing the operative position of one of the opening forming plate members; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary View diagrammatically illustrating the utilization of means for producing the cuplike support of the encapsulating material in the case of granular materials, flake materials and the like.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated as being fabrica-ted with a skeletal frame structure, as generally indi cated at it), in order that the various parts and their cooperative relationship may be more clearly viewed. It will be appreciated, however, that the apparatus may be housed in a substantially closed structure, if desired.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of cooperatively associated frame structures A and B which are respectively provided with arcuate plates 11 and 12 positioned in axial alignment with overlapping adjacent end portions which are centrally provided with confronting oppositely extending V-edge portions 13 and 14. As shown, the V- edge portions coact to form an opening 15 at their overlapped ends. The frame structure A, as shown in FIG. 2, is supported at the outermost end of a centrally positioned arm 16, this arm having its lowermost end pivotally supported at the bottom of the frame 10 for swinging movement between a first limit position as shown in full lines, and a second limit position 16' as shown in phantom lines. This movement of the frame structure A is established by the throw of a crank arm 17 mounted on the output shaft of a driving motor 18, the outer end of the crank arm being connected with one end of a connecting link 19 having its other end pivotally connected with the arm 16. The link 19 is provided with a length adjustment 20 which permits limited variation of the movement of the frame structure A with respect to its first and second limits, and the normal position of frame structure B, p

Frame structure B is supported at, its opposite sides at the outer ends of arms 21 and 22, these arms being pivotally supported at their lowermost ends for swinging movements from a stop limit position as shown in full lines in FIG. 2 in a direction towards the second limit position of frame structure A. -In other words, the stop limit position of frame structure B is between the first and second limit positions of frame structure A. Coiled springs 2323 are connected onteach side between the arms 21 and 22 and adjacent portions of the frame It) to resiliently urge the frame structure B towards its stop limit position as determined by restraining flexible cords or cables 2424 connected adjacent the outer ends of the arms and adjacent portions of the frame structure 10. As thus arranged, it will be apparent that the frame structure B is free to move against the force of the springs 2323 in a direction towards the second limit position of movement of frame structure A.

With the frame structures A and B in their positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the frame structure A at its -first limit position and the frame structure B at its stop limit position, the V-edge portions of the plates 11 and 12 cooperate to form a relatively large opening 15. If the frame structure A is now moved towards its second limit position, the plate 12 will remain fixed, while the plate 11 as a result of its movement will cause a constriction of the opening 15, and that if a flexible material were depressed into the opening 15 this material would be gathered as the opening 15 decreased in size. Moreover, the material in the opening would eventually form an obstruction preventing further relative movement of plate 11 with respect to plate 12. At this point, further movement of plate 11 towards the second limit position of frame structure A will carry frame structure B with it, and frame structures A and B will now continue their movement in unison. This basic association and coaction of the frame structures A and B with their associated plates 11 and 12 are advantageously utilized in carrying out the method of encapsulation of a product in a manner which will be subsequently more fully described.

The plates 11 and 12 in effect form a platform over which a web 25 of encapsulating material is fed from a supply roll 26 to a down-feed position where it passes between a pair of rollers 27 and 28 which are driven through a friction drive from a motor 29 and serve to apply tension forces to the web.

Various materials may be utilized for encapsulating the product, depending upon the type of sealing means utilized in the apparatus. As described, the encapsulating material is of a heat sealing type of film-like plastic, and preferably translucent.

The plte 11 has mounted thereon a transversely extending angle bar 30 which is spaced from the plate and forms a support for a hinged clamping bar 31 which may be fitted along its outer edge with a rubber strip 32 for engaging with the web passing thereunder. This clamping bar serves as a one-way gripping means which is operative to hold the encapsulating material against slippage on the plate 11 as it moves towards its second limit position, and further causes an amount of web material to be unrolled from the supply roll 26.

Adjacent the rollers 27 and 28, a controlled clamping bar 33 is provided, this bar being operative to hold the web material thereunder against reverse movement after the cutting operation, as will subsequently be explained in detail. Control of the operation of the clamping bar 33 is obtained by means of an actuating solenoid which may be energized and deenergized in proper timed relation to coordinate the operation of the clamping bar 33 with the encapsulating operation.

Supplementing the action of the V-edges of the plates 11 and 12 to gather the encapsulating material in the opening 15 as the opening is constricted, means are also provided for clamping the material in the restricted opening so that it may be held during sealing and severing operations. The clamping means will now be briefly described.

Carried below the plate 11 is an axially extending member 35 supported for movement with the plate and having an end 36 which extends into the bottom of the V-edge portion 13. The end 36 is pointed to form converging end faces adapted to engage and cooperate with the edge portions in the bottom of the V-edge 14 of the plate 12 to clampingly engage the encapsulating material when it is gathered by constricting the opening 15.

During the concerted movement of the plates 11 and 12 [towards the second limit position, an elongate blade 37 mounted adjacent the path of movement will be engaged at its outermost end by the material adjacent the portion which is clamped within the opening 15. The blade 37 is heated by electrically energizable heating elements contained within an insulating black 38 at the base of the blade. The cutting end of the blade, as indicated at 39, is serrated, this form of edge being found to be more eflicient in cutting the material, since it keeps the material from shifting laterally during the cutting operation. Simultaneously with the cutting, the heat bonds the gathered material adjacent the clamped portions thereof. While the present disclosure has described the utilization of a heat sealing type of encapsulating material, it is within the broad concepts of the invention to utilize liquid solvents and other known mediums for bonding and severing the encapsulating material.

The cutting of the encapsulating material is further augmented by a plate member 40 mounted on the upper surface of plate 11, this member extending over the bottom of the V-edge portion 13 and being undercut to provide an overhanging edge 41. At the end of the cutting operation the end 39 of the blade 37 will extend under this overhanging edge, encapsulating material being thus prevented from wedging between portions of the plates.

It is an important feature of the present invention to provide means for holding the sealed material in clamped relation for a time interval after the sealing operation, thus giving the sealed material an opportunity to cool prior to subjecting the sealed portions to external stress. This is accomplished in the disclosed apparatus wherein unitary movement of the plates 11 and 12 in a reversed direction from the second limit position provides an interval of time for cooling until the frame structure B reaches its stop limit position as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. At this point, further movement of frame structure A towards its first limit position operates to enlarge the opening 15 and separate the clamping instrumentalities, whereupon a sealed envelope containing the encapsulated product will be released and fall by gravity into an inclined chute 42 supponted on the arms 21 and 22 below the V-edge portion 14 of the plate 12. From this chute the encapsulated product will be discharged into a transversely extending inclined chute 43 by means of which the product will be delivered to a collection point at the side of the apparatus.

It will be observed, that upon severance of the encapsulated material by the blade 37, an opening will be left in the web material with unaltered continuous web portions along each side of the opening. Thus, the rollers 27 and 28 are enabled to apply tension to the web to remove any portions which may be extending into the opening 15, and further assist in the feeding operation of the web for a new encapsulating operation. Also, the action of the rollers feeds the waste web material into a receiver box 44 which contains a dissipating medium. For illustrative purposes, electric heating elements 45 have been provided which will burn the waste web material.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the encapsulating operations will be sequentially considered in detail as follows:

(a) In the disclosed positions of the instrumentalities, the plate 11 is in its first limit position, and plate 12 is in its stop limit position. The plates at this time cooperate with each other, the V-edge portions 13 and 14 at this time providing an enlarged opening over which the web material would normally extend. A product to be encapsulated, as indicated by the numeral 46, is pushed through the opening, this action depressing the encapsulating material through the opening so as to form a cup-like support for the product, as shown.

(b) The plate 11 is now moved towards its second limit position, and during this movement the V-edge portions of the plates 11 and 12 coact to constrict the opening and gather the encapsulating material into a neck portion at the top of the product, and so that the material intimately surrounds the product. During plate movement, the movement of the web material overlying the plate 11 is prevented, thus enabling gathering of the material into the neck portion without shifting the position of the product in the cup-like support. This is important in the case of products such as lettuce, where it may be desirable to leave a butt-end projecting from the encapsulating envelope. The operator is thus assured that the butt-end will be in the proper position. As the gathered material is compacted in the base portions of the V-edge portions, the end 36 and the mating V-edge portion of plate 12 coact to clamp the encapsulating material in the neck portion.

(c) The plates 11 and 12 next move in unison from the stop limit position of plate 12 to the second limit position of plate 11, and during this movement, the gathered encapsulating material in the neck portion above the clamping faces formed by the end 36 and the coacting portion of plate 12 is carried against the end 39 of the blade 37. The hot blade severs the encapsulating material outwardly of the clamped portion, the blade end 39 passing under the overhanging edge 41.

(d) The movement of plates 11 and 12 as a unit is now reversed and will carry the encapsulated product 46 with the neck of the envelope still clamped in a direction away from the hot blade. The interval during this movement constitutesa cooling interval which permits the bonded sealed encapsulating material to be cooled while retaining the bonded surfaces in clamped relation, and free from external stress.

(2) At the stop limit position of plate 12, plate 11 continues to move on towards its first limit position. As a result of this action, the opening 15 is again enlarged and the clamping instrumentalities release'the encapsulated product so that it may fall by gravity to the conveying means for transporting it to a point of collection. When the frame structure A with the associated plate 11 reaches its first limit position, the apparatus is ready to proceed with another encapsulating operation, and in this position the web again extends over the opening 15, as shown, ready to be pushed into the opening by the prodnot.

The apparatus of the present invention is readily adapted to effect different types of seals such as a completely airtight seal, semi-airtight seal, or a seal that may be partially opened without destroying the package, by the simple expedient of providing interchangeable slightly modified plate structures. ment shown in FIG. 1, the utilization of a pointed end 36 on the member 35 will result in a completely closed seal.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the end 36 is shown as having a truncate end which provides a straight end edge portion 47, the ends of which will engage a mating edge surface in the V-edge 14 of the plate 12 at spaced points on opposite sides of the V axis. Thus, there will be a portion of the gathered encapsulating material at the V axis which is not clamped. Also, the V-edge 14 is provided with axially extending slots 48-148 symmetrically positioned outwardly of the V axis, asshown. These slots are arranged to receive gathered encapsulating material of the neck portion therein, so that in the sealing and severing operation, a seal will be provided with projecting ear-like extensions 49-49, as best shown in FIG. 6. By utilizing the clamping arrangement shown in FIG.

5, an unsealed opening is obtained between the project- For example, in the arrange- 6 tioned on the respective V axes. As thus modified, ears 53 and 54 will be provided between the ends of the envelope seal;

There may be times in the use of the apparatus that a product to be encapsulated may be slightly larger than the opening 15. Such conditions might exist in the case of the packaging of products such as lettuce and the like. Under such conditions, provision is made for enlarging the opening 15. As shown in FIG. 9, the member SS instead of being rigidly connected to the plate 11 is slidably connected. The plate in this case is provided with a U-shaped member 55 on its under surface which slidably receives the member 35 for relative axial movement therein. A solenoid 56, connected by a pivotal link 57 permits shifting movement of the plate 11,: upon energization of the solenoid, to a position along the member 35 such that the opening 15 will be enlarged. By providing a solenoid of the spring return type, the plate 11 will be automatically shifted back to its normal posi-tion upon deenergization of the solenoid. 7

Since the product to be encapsulated is normally utilized to depress the encapsulating material into the opening to form a cup-like support for the product, it will be appreciated that such procedure could not be followed where the product is, for example, granular, flaky or the like. In such situations, as shown in FIG. 10, a tubular member 58 may be utilized to depress the encapsulating materialinto the opening 15, and the material then positioned therein. The tubular member may then be removed and the encapsulating procedure continued as in the regular manner. On the other hand, if desired, the tubular member may be left within the cup-like support and encapsulated along with the product.

The encapsulating procedure as heretofore described herein, facilitates the utilization of a further unique procedure by which an indicia bearing band may be simultaneously encapsulated within the main envelope together with the product in such manner that the indicia will be visible through the envelope, where the material is of a transparent nature. For such purpose, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a roll 59 of band material 66 is mounted so as to feed the band axially. over the. opening 15 in superposed relation to the web 25. Thus, the band 60 will simultaneously be depressed through the opening by the insertion of the product as previously explained, bonded and severed at the same time that the envelope is sealed, the sealing operation serving to likewise retain the band in position within the envelope around the product and in intimate relation thereto. This feature provides a facile and economical procedure by which instructions and other indicia may be encapsulated simultaneously with the product.

While no specific control has been described for the apparatus, the utilization of solenoids and electric power means permits synchronization and timed operation of the various parts in any manner desired. For example, the return of the frame structure A to its normal first limit position may be utilized to operate a limit switch which will inactivate the machine until such time as the operator inserts another product through the opening 15 to be encapsulated, at which time the operator may then manually actuate a push button switch which will start an encapsulating operation and complete the cycle and stop the apparatus until the operator again pushes the switch. Likewise, the solenoid 34 may Deactivated in timed relation with respect to the cutting operation.

Yarigus modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form or forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions, providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits,

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively larger opening, and

(b) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure at its stop limit position to constrictively close said opening and engage between the clamping faces a material extending axially through said opening, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position; and

(E) cutting and bonding means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position operative upon the material extending from said opening,

(a) said structures upon reversed reciprocable movement being operative at said stop limit position of said other structure to begin increasing the size of said opening and release the clamped material.

2. Apparatus for encapsulating a product,-comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means including said one of said structures for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material over said opening;

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits,

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated, and

(b) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position; and

(F) means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for bonding the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, and severing the material to detach the encapsulating portion from the main web.

3. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material over said opening including a one-way clamp carried by said one of said structures adapted to grip the web in its movement from said first to said second limit;

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits,

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated,

(b) relative movement of said one structure to- Wards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position; and

(F) means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for bonding the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, and severing the material to detach the encapsulating portion from the main web.

4. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material over said opening;

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits;

(0) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated,

(b) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position;

(F) means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for bonding the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, and severing the material to detach the encapsulating portion from the main web; and

(G) one-way clamping means on the down-feed side of said structures for clamping said web against reversed direction of feed movement during reversed reciprocable movement of said structures.

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of saidstructures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material over said opening, including a pair of friction driven feed rollers on the down-feed side of said structures for maintaining said web under tension,

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits;

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated,

(12) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position; and

(F) means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for bonding the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, and severing the material to detach the encapsulating portion from the main web.

6. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material over said opening, including a pair of friction driven feed rollers on the down-feed side of said structures for maintaining said web under tension,

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits;

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form arelatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated,

(1)) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position, (F) means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for bonding the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, and severing (G) a receiver for the waste web material from said rollers containing a web dissipating medium.

7. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material having a heat sealing characteristic over said 7 opening;

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits,

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated, I

(b) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position; and

(F) a heated blade member adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for engaging the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, whereby the material is heat sealed and severed to detach the product encapsulating portion from the main web.

8. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening, (a) one of said structures having a plate member on its upper surface provided with an overhanging edge adjacent the opening forming edge thereof;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving said one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material having a heat sealing characteristic over said opening;

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits,

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated,

(b) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position; and

(F) a heated blade member adjacent the path of said 1 1 continued movement towards said' second limit position having an end adapted to pass below said overhanging edges to thereby pass through and seal the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support.

9. Apparatus for encapsulating a product, comprising:

(A) a pair of axially aligned plate-like structures having adjacent end portions providing clamping faces and edges normally cooperating to form an opening;

(B) means supporting said structures for independent axial movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) power means for reciprocably moving one of said structures between first and second limits;

(D) means for feeding a web of flexible encapsulating material over said opening;

(E) means resiliently urging the other of said structures in a direction towards said one structure to a stop limit position between said first and second limits,

(a) said one structure in its first limit position coacting with said other structure in its stop limit position to form a relatively large opening into which the encapsulating material may be pushed to form a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated,

(11) relative movement of said one structure towards its second limit position coacting with said other structure to constrictively close said opening and clampingly engage the encapsulating material therein between the clamping faces, whereupon continued movement of said one structure moves said other structure and clamped material with it as a unit towards said second limit position;

(F) means for axially shifting the position of said one structure with respect to its support to increase the size of the opening; and

(G) means adjacent the path of said continued movement towards said second limit position for bonding the material extending from said opening on the opposite side from said cup-like support, and severing the material to detach the encapsulating portion from the main web.

10. In apparatus for encapsulating a product:

(A) a pair of cooperatively associated frame structures, including (a) axially aligned plate members having overlapped adjacent ends with opposed confronting end V-edges normally coacting to form an opening, and an axially extending slot in the bottom portion of the V of each plate;

(B) means supporting said frame structures for endwise movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) means for moving a web of flexible film-like encapsulating material to a position overlying said opening, whereby a portion of the material may be depressed into the opening when relatively large to provide a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated, and the material gathered around the product and forced into said slots by constricting the opening;

(D) a member carried by one of said plates projecting beyond its V-edge and having end face portions for coaction with the edge face in the bottom portion of the V-edge of the other plate to clamp the gathered material in the constricted opening; and

(E) means for bonding and transversely severing the gathered material.

11. In apparatus for encapsulating a product:

(A) a pair of cooperatively associated frame structures, including (a) axially aligned plate members having overlapped adjacent ends with opposed confronting end V-edges normally coacting to form an opening, one of said V-edges having axially extending slots outwardly spaced on opposite sides of the V axis;

(B) means supporting said frame structures for endwise movements towards and away from each other to vary the size of said opening;

(C) means for moving a web of flexible film-like encapsulating material to a position overlying said opening, whereby a portion of the material may be depressed into the opening when relatively large to provide a cup-like support for a product to be encapsulated, and the material gathered around the product and forced into said slots upon constricting the opening;

(D) a member carried by one of said plates projecting beyond its V-edge and having an end face for coaction with the edge face in the bottom portion of the V-edge of the other plate to clamp the gathered material in the constricted opening; and

(E) means for bonding and transversely severing the gathered material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,912 Ballard Feb. 20, 1906 1,497,276 Hirschhorn June 10, 1924 1,811,414 Gammeter June 23, 1931 2,148,587 Slocum Feb. 28, 1939 2,165,841 Doble July 11, 1939 2,815,620 Prodigo Dec. 10, 1957 2,830,417 Ullman Apr. 15, 1958 2,831,302 Jensen Apr. 22, 1958 2,838,897 Ponten June 17, 1958 

11. IN APPARATUS FOR ENCAPSULATING A PRODUCT: (A) A PAIR OF COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED FRAME STRUCTURES, INCLUDING (A) AXIALLY ALIGNED PLATE MEMBERS HAVING OVERLAPPED ADJACENT ENDS WITH OPPOSED CONFRONTING END V-EDGES NORMALLY COACTING TO FORM AN OPENING, ONE OF SAID V-EDGES HAVING AXIALLY EXTENDING SLOTS OUTWARDLY SPACED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE V AXIS; (B) MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME STRUCTURES FOR ENDWISE MOVEMENTS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO VARY THE SIZE OF SAID OPENING; (C) MEANS FOR MOVING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE FILM-LIKE ENCAPSULATING MATERIAL TO A POSITION OVERLYING SAID OPENING, WHEREBY A PORTION OF THE MATERIAL MAY BE DEPRESSED INTO THE OPENING WHEN RELATIVELY LARGE TO PROVIDE A CUP-LIKE SUPPORT FOR A PRODUCT TO BE ENCAPSULATED, AND THE MATERIAL GATHERED AROUND THE PRODUCT AND FORCED INTO SAID SLOTS UPON CONSTRICTING THE OPENING; (D) A MEMBER CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID PLATES PROJECTING BEYOND ITS V-EDGE AND HAVING AN END FACE FOR COACTION WITH THE EDGE FACE IN THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE V-EDGE OF THE OTHER PLATE TO CLAMP THE GATHERED MATERIAL IN THE CONSTRICTED OPENING; AND (E) MEANS FOR BONDING AND TRANSVERSELY SEVERING THE GATHERED MATERIAL. 